Thread by @sarahfrier

Instagram: "We don’t want Instagram to be such a competition." *tests removing likes*

Teens: *turn their profiles into "business" accounts for more detailed metrics, making their contact info public*

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

If you turn your account into a business account, you get detailed analytics about who is viewing your posts by time of day, gender, etc etc. Anyone can do it. The only cost is you have to make your email or phone # public. A data scientist found millions of teens are doing this.

There are many legit famous teens/teen businesses on Instagram. But this data scientist also found tons of examples of teens who say they are a "nonprofit" or "athlete" etc even though they have small followings and do not appear to be influencers/businesses.

Adults do this too, of course. A friend confesses:
"I was stalking a former love interest who was “business” and wanted to see what he could see to make sure I could keep stalking. Then I got hooked. The analytics are addicting."